Nomad Cafe

Also: While Nomad Cafe has a fine-dining feel and a menu filled with sophisticated flavor combinations, itís not an adults-only kind of place. In addition to a generous selection of burgers and tacos, there is also a Little Nomads section of the menu that offers favorites such as chicken fingers, mini-burgers and a kidsadilla.

THE REVIEW: Itís a good sign youíve happened upon a new favorite spot when the group at the next table includes Darcia Jones-Francey and Rita Moreno, people I would consider to be among Brevardís more discriminating diners.

Such was the case during a recent visit to Nomad Cafe, an eclectic eatery with international flare in a former service station on the edge of downtown Melbourne.

It was a Saturday night, and we were glad to have reservations; some would-be diners were being turned away or asked to wait outside on a tiny patio.

Our dinner companions were already seated when we arrived, and had placed an order for the spanakopita appetizer ($8). Since we had theater tickets and little time to waste, we made a hasty decision on guacamole ($6), and settled in with the rest of the menu.

To say Nomad is eclectic is an understatement. The menu includes traditional Mexican fare like burritos, fajitas and enchiladas. But it also is filled with interesting fine-dining style entrees of steak, pasta and seafood. Itís not an unmanageably huge menu, but such deviant options made decisions difficult. Hearing the specials only added to our quandary.

In the end, I opted for the pork cecina, grilled pork medallions served with Spanish style rice and grilled pineapple ($15). My friend wanted something light, so she chose the pulled duck salad ($14). Our husbands went with the dinner specials, one pork, the other seafood.

(Page 2 of 2)

The appetizers arrived promptly, and were a delicious start to our meal. The spanakopita, Greek spinach pie, was crisp and savory, and the cool, thick cucumber sauce was the perfect accompaniment. Likewise, the guacamole amazing. Made to order, it had gentle chunks of avocado and lots of cilantro, my favorite herb.

Probably because the dining room was so busy, it took a while for our entrees to arrive. Luckily, we had a nice Ramon Bilbao Rioja ($34) to enjoy. When the dishes did arrive, they had cooled to a few degrees less than hot.

Despite its tepid temperature, I enjoyed my pork. The meat was tender and well-seasoned, with the pineapple adding a bright burst of sweetness. Not usually a fan of Spanish rice, I enjoyed this flavorful version.

My husbandís pork special was an interesting version of surf and turf, with shrimp and mussels over a savory bread pudding. It was an unusual, and alluring combination of tastes.

My friend was less enthusiastic about her duck salad. While she declared the duck delicious, the wait time between its preparation and its delivery to our table left the salad greens wilted. Her husband was also a bit disappointed with his meal. The fish was well-cooked and flaky, and the sauce had a nice zing to it. But the side of pasta was unmemorable.

We finished our meals with just enough time to try dessert. My husband and I shared the tres leches cake, and our friends chose the flan.

Both desserts were wonderful. The flan came shaped like a little foot, an odd but interesting touch. The cake melted in our mouths, moist and juicy without being soggy.

The wine, starters and desserts at Nomad earn top ratings, and on a less-busy night, Iím sure the entrees would, too. I canít wait for a return visit, when Iíll try something from the Traditional Mexican page of the menu.